The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 11, 2013
Filed:
Apr. 21, 2009
Patrick James Calvert, Sheriff Hutton, GB;
Paul Roderick Allen Oram, Haslemere, GB;
Patrick James Calvert, Sheriff Hutton, GB;
Paul Roderick Allen Oram, Haslemere, GB;
BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Middlesex, GB;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for mitigating slug formation in a multiphase fluid stream that is flowing through a conduit wherein the conduit comprises a first portion and a second portion which is upwardly inclined to the first portion and wherein the multiphase fluid stream comprises a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining the pressure in the conduit upstream of a slugging zone; (b) determining the pressure in the conduit downstream of the slugging zone; (c) determining the actual pressure difference across the slugging zone by subtracting the downstream pressure from step (b) from the upstream pressure from step (a); (d) determining the error between a target pressure difference and the actual pressure difference; (e) producing a signal comprising a first component which is proportional to the error and a second component which is proportional to the rate of change of the error over time; and (f) using the signal produced in step (e) to control the position of an adjustable choke valve located downstream of the slugging zone so as to stabilize variations arising in the actual pressure difference over time.